Drive safely

Conditions in Iceland are unusual and unlike what many foreign drivers are accustomed to. It is therefore very important to find out how to drive in our country. The beautiful landscapes can easily draw the driver’s attention away from the road. But in order to reach your destination safely, you must keep your full attention on driving. Here below you can find our detailed safety manual, which is very informative and should help any driver get a better feeling of our unique conditions.

We encourage all of our customers to take a few minutes out of their day to watch the very informative video, the video covers the many unexpected dangers and unique conditions you can find on the roads in Iceland.

Strong winds, ice, snow and the gravel roads amongst many other things can make driving in Iceland difficult. We encourage all our customers to take a look at the websites below before driving in the rural areas. The weather is very unpredictable and most often nothing like what you are used to in your home country.

Car Rental Iceland

National emergency assistance 24/7

Call 112 if you have an emergency.

Blue Car Rental 24/7 emergency breakdown phone number

Call +354 773 7070

Speed limits

The general speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on gravel roads in rural areas and 90 km/h on hard-surfaced roads. Please note: special warning signs indicate danger ahead, such as sharp bends, narrow bridges, blind hill but there is generally no separate sign to reduce speed.

Roundabouts - who has the right of way?

The vehicles in the inner circle have the right of way when exiting the roundabout.

Is it allowed to make a right turn at a red traffic light?

No, you can not make a right turn at a red traffic light.

Rural roads (unpaved/gravel roads)

Many rural roads in Iceland are gravel roads which are not suited to fast driving. Please drive carefully and show other road-users consideration at all times. When you meet another car, slow down, and pull out to the right side of the road.

Blind Crest

When driving in the country you will come across blind crests. Some of them are without any markings at all. Many of them however, are marked with the warning sign "OTHER DANGER" above the word "BLINDHÆÐ" (BLIND CREST). Please show extra caution when crossing blind crests.

Narrow bridges - One lane bridges

Many bridges are too narrow to allow more than one car to cross at a time. Before entering one lane bridges please slow down and make sure that another vehicle coming from the opposite direction is not entering the bridge.

Ask for information about road/track conditions

Please ask for information about the various roads and tracks in the highlands, e.g. at the office of Vegagerðin (The Public Road Administration). Tel.: 1777. Highland roads are often impassable far into summer. Please remember that off road driving (driving off the established roads and tracks) is forbidden in the highlands as well as everywhere else.

Drinking and driving is prohibited

It is forbidden to drive a motor vehicle in Iceland after drinking alcoholic beverages.

Always use safety belts

All travellers are obliged to use safety belts where they are available.

Tired drivers can cause accidents

Beware of getting too tired at the wheel. Iceland may look small on a map of the world, but distances that seem short on the map may take a long time to cover by car. So please take long journeys in easy stages and enjoy them to the full.

Headlights always turned on

Drivers are obliged to drive with headlights on at all times.

Animals can cause danger on roads

Please be prepared for farm animals grazing by the roadside and straying into or crossing the road. Drivers who cause injury or death to such animals may be liable to claims for compensation.